jolly

From Middle English joli, jolif (“merry, cheerful”), from Old French joli, jolif (“merry, joyful”)[1] It is uncertain whether the Old French word is from Old Norse jól ("a midwinter feast, Yule", hence "fest-ive") [2], in which case, equivalent to yule +‎ -ive; or ultimately from Latin gaudeō (see etymology at joy). For the loss of final -f compare tardy, hasty, hussy, etc.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɒli/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɑli/
• Rhymes: -ɒli
• Hyphenation: jol‧ly

jolly (comparative jollier, superlative jolliest)

1. Full of merriment and high spirits; jovial.

jolly (plural jollies)

1. (Britain, dated) A pleasure trip or excursion.
2. (slang, dated) A marine in the English navy.

   Synonym: joey

   • Rudyard Kipling

     I'm a Jolly — 'Er Majesty's Jolly — soldier an' sailor too!

jolly (comparative more jolly, superlative most jolly)

1. (Britain, dated) very, extremely
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 37:

     Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’

• jolly well

jolly (third-person singular simple present jollies, present participle jollying, simple past and past participle jollied)

1. (transitive) To amuse or divert.

• jolly along

• JOLLY in the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 15, p. 495.

From English jolly joker, an older name for the joker card in a deck of cards.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɔlli/

jolly m (invariable)

1. (card games) joker
2. wild card